My brother tried to kill me today (but I survived) and next time we're packing an Asian

Ok,ok. Before anyone gets offended, I will explain why we're packing an Asian and then go back to Evan trying to kill me. We have been doing our best to make/cook meals and I'm pretty impressed with our low budget creations. Tonight, for example, we had mediterranean couscous, chick peas, corn, and lamb with mint sausage. As an appetizer we had camembert (sp?) cheese on white bread and I had a small can of green spanish olives stuffed with garlic. While we were cooking up our feast an asian couple was making bbq lamb spare ribs and a pizza with a fresh salad as garnish. At our last RV park, an asian family showed up, complete with rice cooker, broccoli and bok choy and went to town with their skills. So yeah, now you know.

RV life isn't bad. We just played grass again (Evan isn't pleased that I've taken to beating him) and then we ate some chocolate cake by the light of our clamp on reading lamp. I realized earlier today while bragging about our top 10 holiday park (aka RV park) discount card and raving about the warehouse (NZ's Walmart) that I may or may not have become slightly white trash on this trip and we're not even 1 week in. In my defense, top 10 holiday parks are amazing. The bathrooms are clean, showers are hot (and free) and the kitchen is spotless as well. Everyone is super friendly (except the Spanish couple that we decided hate each other) and most people still have the majority of their teeth.

So...on to how Evan tried to kill me. As I mentioned yesterday, we ditched our plan to do the 3-4 day hike based on weather and temperature concerns and I can 100% confidently tell you that it was the right call. We set out today to hike to the 1st hut - Te Anau control gates to Luxmore Hut. Supposedly it's 8-9 hours round trip and (we learned afterwards, 27km round trip). We woke up this a.m and it was pouring rain. As it lessened up a bit we decided to go for it and layered up in as much warm and waterproof/resistant gear we had. Evan wore shorts because he did not apparently pack pants but other than that I think we were dressed ok. Each of our goretex boots tested out just fine - no blisters and dry feet all around. My EMS brand quick dry pants were AMAZING. I should have bought 2 more pairs.

And off we went. The 1st hour or so was not bad at all. The 2nd and 3rd hours, however, were straight up 900 meters. Evan is 7 inches taller than me and hikes mountains on a regular basis in NH. I live in Philly, enough said. Even though I can run marathons that does not translate to hiking inclines at the pace of someone who is 5'11" and especially not in the cold. Between my nose running, my profuse sweating and my inability to get air into my lungs I thought I was going to die. I kept thinking "man, I did not realize I was so our of shape." That's until I realized that we were going to arrive at the hut in 3 hours and not the 4 - 4.5 they say it should take!!! Mother fucker.

So we got past the tree line and, of course, it was snowing. Hard. And windy and freeeeezing cold. And the hut isn't heated. Some little dude (aka wanna be hobbit) from Colorado had apparently spent the night there and was on his last leg of his multi-day hike. Insane, seriously insane. After stopping for less than 30 mins to eat and drink in the hut we were both frozen and booked it back below the tree line and down the mountain. All that in 6 hours (not 8-9) round trip. Oh, and the hobbit...he hitched a ride from us back to his car parked 12km down the road.

I was relieved to hear Evan admit that his body hurt and "wow, we did that fast." Phew. I'm not that out of shape after all...just short and sensible.

And that's where we are 1 week in. Other than the cold, no complaints. Evan and I are getting along and we even talk a bit now and then (Evan isn't much of a talker and I don't really have too to say if you can believe that). Tomorrow we're doing a shorter hike and perhaps seeing some glow worm caves (yes, glow worms exist...they aren't just the toys from the 80s/90s). Thursday we're taking a boat trip out to Doubtful Sound to explore the fjords and maybe see some dolphins and then Friday it's on to the next town.

It's a little weird to think I'm still over 2 months away from the states. I miss Sunday football, I miss the cats tons, I miss my friends and I can't wait for some exciting things happening toward the end of November. I still need to figure out the whole job thing and also where I'd like to live (philly v. Europe if I don't get a job in the states that thrills me) but I've got time and some ideas bouncing around in my head so we'll see where that takes me. For now I'm going to focus on staying warm.